Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-06-22
JEFFERSON COUNTY PIONEERS.

JCIt IUSoN uOuNI EluNECno'
The meeting of the Old Settlers socie-
ty of Jefferson county, held last Thurs
day, June 10th, at Fort Atkinson to COM
memorale the fifty-second anniversary OF
the settlement Of the county, was fine
success, large number of the old settlers
and their friends being present to enjoy
the occasion. The following from Water
town answered to the roll call: S. M.
Eaton, Daniel Jones, II. Mulberger, VIM.
L. Norris, Mr.. and Mrs. Drew Straw, Mr..
and Mrs. John A. Chadwick, Mrs. c..
Avery, Mrs. E. Kohn, Mrs. A. M. Hill,
Mrs. S. March, Mrs. S. E. Webb, Mrs. T.
Martin, Mr.. and, Mrs. John W. Cole,
Mrs. A. Thomas, Mrs John Richards.
Mrs. w. Smith, Mrs S. Burns, Geo. Bas-
ford and Edison Green. After the pioneers
had partaken of an old-fashioned picnic
dinner served in Jones' Grove, which had
been duly prepared and fitted up for the
use of the society, addresses were made
by Geo. w. Peck, of Milwaukee, upon
the Early Days at Cold Spring" and
Hon E. w. Reyes, of Madison, upon the
"Flrst Settlement of Lake Mills" Hon.
E. d. Coe, of Whitewater, and Rev. E.
l.. Eaton, of Madison, both Jefferson
county born, the former a native of
Ixonia, and the latter of Hebron, enter
tanned the audience with interesting ex-
periepces as sons of pioneer fathers. Eds
talk was of decided interest to Watertown
people as it came nearer home than any
thing else that was said.
Mrs. John Coles new treatise on figures
and the reputation the three Cole
brothers had along the river as arithme
ticians when scale of logs was required,
were among Mr.. Goes recollections of
the early times in Ixonia. He remem-
bered there were no gray-haired men in
the settlement except Ben Piper until old
uncle John Smith came upon the scene.
Mr.. Coe remembers also that in the presi-
dental campaign of 1S4S, Ben Piper
seemed to be the only adherent of Demo
cracy in the town, but afterwards a change
in the tide of the political affairs made it
less lonesome for Mr.. Piper. The story of
the Indians eating Mrs. Goes yeast cakes
for bread and the consequent turn in
their stomachs caused much laughter, as
did Eds recital Of the frst time be ever
attended show, which was the Herr
Driesbach mensgerie in Watertown dur
ing the summer of 1S47, and the sore dis
appointment he experienced in the ele-
plant not being larger.
Remarks were also made at the meet
ing by Hon. J. w. Ostrander, of Jefer-
SOD, and E. G. Fifeld, of GAINESVILLE.
Mrs. Chadwick and Mrs. Cole were in
troduced to the audience as the oldest set
tlers among the ladies present. Mrs.
Chadwick before retiring, being called
upon, presented few "reminiscences of
pioneer days, saying that she arrived on
the present site of the city of Watertown
with her father. the late Timothy John
son, December IL, 1886, nearly 81 years
ago, and that they ground corn for bread
with a coffee mill, but S. M. Eaton, in
soto voce, said coffee mill was Tot
known in Hebron and there the corn
vas mashed with an old jack plane.
Mr.. Reyes in his able address said that
the next day June II, 1887 it would be
so years since his fathers family landed
at Walkers Point, Milwaukee, and pro-
ceeded almost Immediately to settle at
Lake Mills. Passing through Prairieville,
the present site of Waukesha, there was
but one log house and nosettlers between
there and Lake Mills, except at Bark
River and Aztalan. Mr.. Keyes paid
glowing tributes to the pioneer women
and that forerunner in the Masters work
the Methodist circuit rider. Rev. Mrs
Eaton in his random talk brought down
the house, and placed everybody in the
best OF humor with the stories he told.
He also sang several pieces which were
roundly applauded.
The music furnished by the Fort At
kinson band and the singing by the Glee
club were features of the joyful occasion
much appreciated by all present. Milo
Jones, one of the noblest Romans among
old settlers, presided and answered with
out blushing or hesitancy every appeal
made to him by his friend Reyes. To the
great success of the day much of the credit
is due the able and indefatigable secre-
tary, Mark Curtis. He arranged an in
teresting programme that he had the
satisfaction of seeing carried out to the
letter. The election of officers of the So
ciety resulted in the choice of the old set,